AFCON 2015: Controversy Erupts Over Refereeing in Equatorial Guinea’s Win Against Tunisia
The dramatic 2-1 victory of Equatorial Guinea over Tunisia in the second quarter-final of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations has been overshadowed by intense controversy surrounding referee Seechurn Rajindraparsad of Mauritius.
⚖️ A Questionable Penalty
The turning point came in stoppage time when Rajindraparsad awarded a highly contentious penalty to the host nation, leading to Javier Balboa’s equalizer. Many observers and Tunisian supporters believe the contact in the box was minimal at best, and that the decision was influenced more by external pressure than actual foul play.
🗣 Outrage on Social Media
Social media platforms exploded with criticism. Many fans and analysts accuse CAF of favoring Equatorial Guinea as a reward for hosting the tournament on short notice after Morocco’s withdrawal due to Ebola fears.
“Scandalous refereeing by the Mauritian referee. The Tunisians were robbed.” — @wanatidz on Twitter
⚠️ Referee’s Controversial Past
This isn’t the first time Seechurn Rajindraparsad has been at the center of dispute:
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In 2009, during a Togo-Gabon match, he was criticized for not sanctioning a brutal tackle on Daniel Cousin, which left the Gabonese star with a broken collarbone.
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In 2013, Gabon even formally objected to his appointment ahead of an AFCON qualifier due to previous poor officiating.
🚨 Implications for CAF
The backlash puts CAF in a difficult position. With accusations of bias, especially involving a host nation, the integrity of the tournament is under scrutiny. Many are now demanding:
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A review of officiating standards
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Possible disciplinary action against the referee
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Greater transparency in referee appointments
🇹🇳 Tunisia’s Bitter Exit
For Tunisia, the sense of injustice lingers. Coach Georges Leekens and his squad now exit the competition with more questions than answers — not about their performance, but about the fairness of the conditions under which they played.
